Overhead trolley system



Oct. 10, 1944. w, .s 2,360,064

OVERHEAD TROLLEY SYSTEM Original Filed April 3, 1942 Inventor WARREN J. LEWlS By}- QQWFJQM/ A tlorney Patented Oct. 10, 1944 OVERHEAD TROLLEY SYSTEM Warren J. Lewis, Mansfield, Ohio, assignor to The Ohio Brass Company, Mansfield, Ohio, a corporation of New Jersey Original application April 3, 1942, Serial No.

1943, Serial No. 488,290

437,556. Divided and this application May 24,

Claims.

This application relates to overhead trolley systems and in its more specific aspects is directed to an electrical means for shifting the frog tongues controlled by collector'operated switches whose opening or closing sequence determines the tongue position.

The object of this invention is to construct a trolley frog whose tongue position is controlled by switches operated by contactors pivoted to said frogs engageable by the current collectors and wherein the opening and closing sequence is determined by the order in which the trolley current collectors engage the contactors.

A further object of the invention is to provide an overhead trolley system in which pivoted contactors on the frog pans operate switches for determining the energizing and deenergizing of the tongue shifting coils.

Another and still further object of the invention is to provide in an overhead trolley system a frog pan having a shiftable tongue movable by coils whose energization is controlled by switches on said pan that are opened and closed in the same sequence in which the current collectors on the vehicle engage the contactors.

Other and further objects of the invention will occur to those skilled in the arts to which this invention pertains as the description proceeds which taken in connection with the accompanying drawing sets forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and selected modifications thereof, but such disclosures are not to be construed as a limitation of the invention which is limited only by the appended claims and any and all modifications, alterations and variations of structure coming within the spirit and scope thereof are deemed to be included herein.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 shows a side elevational View of the ccntactor mechanism employed in the invention.

Fig. 3 shows a detail sectional view along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

This application is division of application S, N. 437,556, filed April 3, 1942.

The objects set forth above are embodied in the structure generally disclosed in Fig. 1 in which 23 and 2'! designate conventional frog elements to which trolley wires 28, 28 aresecured and from which wires 3i, 3! are led in a straight-through direction and 30, 33 branch off as turn-off or curve wires. A tongue element 32 is arranged on each of the frog pans 23 and 21, pivoted thereto at 33, which selectively connects the wires to either 33, 3!] or 3], 3| depending upon the adjusted position of the tongue elements 32, 32.

The moving vehicle (not shown) has the usual current collectors 8, 3a arranged thereon in the conventional manner that are adapted to engage the respective trolley wires 28, 28 and as indicated above, tongue elements 32, 32 direct the current collectors 9, 9a selectively on to the branch or curve trolley wires 30, 3B or the straight-through wires 3!, 3|. In order to maintain the frog pans 23 and 21 in proper spaced relationship a pair of strain or insulator elements 23, 29 is arranged therebetween to maintain the said spaced relationship which is coincident with the spacing of the current collectors 9, 9a.

Means have been provided for the shifting of the tongue elements 32, 32 to line up with either of the wires 33, 33 and 3|, 3! "as indicated above,

which means is embodied in a pair of actuating coils 34, 34, each of which has a plunger 3! that is mechanically linked to the tongue elements 32,152 by a bar or linkage schematically shown at 56, 36. A latching means is shown at 40, 4E! pivotally supported at 33, 39 by means of bar elements 430., 4311 which are kept in a retracted position by means of springs 38, 38; each of the latch elements 30, 38 receive the bar linkage 56 on one side of it when the switch is set for curve. The particular illustration discloses a conventional re-set type of mechanism which originate in a pair of pivoted elements 35, that are mechanically linked to the plungers 3i, 3'! of actuating coils 34, 34 by means of the linkage 36. Re-set mechanisms 35, 35 are engaged by the current collectors 9, 9a to restore the tongue elements 32, 32 to the straightthrough position following each passage of the vehicle to the turn-01f position.

Attention is invited to the fact that in this embodiment, the control coils, switch and resistance employed in the parent application have been replaced by simple make and break switches 4| and 42, that are actuated by tiltable or pivoted contactor elements 36 and 41. Attention is further invited to the fact that each of these contactcrs 56 and 41 is of varying lengths, as indicated by the distance A which is determined in a manner similar to the distance A described and shown in the application identifled above. Any vehicle approaching the trolley frogs and desiring to go on the branch trolleys 30, 30 will be positioned underneath the trolley V2. p frogs such that collector So will be considerably. advanced ahead'of {the collector 9 and will, as

. switch 4| is normally mally closed. 7 1 r V l Fig. 1 shows the distance contactor 46 is pivoted ahead of contactor 41.,The

a result, engage the contactor 46 before collector 9 engages contactor 41. l Upon collector 9a engaging contactor 46, it will elevate it and simultaneously close switch 4|. The closing of switch 4| establishes a circuit through the actuating coils 34, 34by means of conductor 43, coil 7 g 34, conductor 44 and a second coil 34 and con-. 7' ductor 45 through switch 42 and thence to the frog pan 26. V 7

tactor may be variouslyangled, such as to vary I that there will be ample'time, during passage 7 opposite trolley wire' 28; This action will shift, thetongue elements32, 32 to the turn-oil position and permit the collectors 9 and 9a to fol-' low the path of trolley wires 30, 30. Assoon as the collector 9 engages its corresponding con-' tactor 41, it will break the circuit by reason'oi it opening switch 42 therebyde-energizing coils '34, 34 and when the collectors 9, 9a engage the Distance B in reaso'n'for this displacement isthat if collector 9 should disengage contactor 41 before 9a disenclosed and therebyprevent an undesired operation.

v 2 Assuming that the vehicle with collectors 9 and "9d desires to continue in the straight ahead p'osi-J 'tion on to wires 3.| '3 it should, be observed that j'collectors' 9, ea Will approach and practically, jsubstantially; simultaneously engage the respec- "tive contactors 45 and 41, and whereas collector f9d in its movement will close-switch 4| thereby "normally closing theshifting circuit, yet before the coils 34,v 34 can be energized the circuit will i havebeengbroken by 'collector ,9 engaging con-' tactor 41 thereby breaking the-lshiftingcircuit. It should be apparent'from this descnption that the functioning "of the actuating lcoils 34, '34 is not dependent uponthe opening or closingof anyswitch by a coilor upon a potential being imposed across an arbitrary resistance and even if any arcs are forms influence in" any way'the functioning of the def vice. .Ffurthermore, V since the" engagement 10f contactors 46 and 41 with collectors-B and 9a, is astrictly mechanical function the possibility of arcing will; as a natural result, be'prevented and,

the shifting of the tongue elements will be entirely dependent, theref ore, upon, the mechanical shifted by collector-9 thereby breaking the circuit at switch'42u h V v Figs z andfi disclosejin a littlelgreater'detail the functioning and construction of the switches o "4| ,42 and their relationship to the contactors: ;46: andf41; it being observed as previously indi jcatedthatvgthe two contactors are of difierent lengths. Each of the contactorsllfi and 41"c'qmopen and switch 42 is nor-1 prises initially apivoted arm 59 as indicated whose pivot pin 50 is fixed in the tip of the The right-hand end of the conthe opening or closing time of the respective switches 4| and 42. The distance or length, in-' of a vehicle, for the collector to hold the contactor in an, elevated position for the coils 34,

"34 to function therebyshifting tongues 32, 32-

to the turn-ofij position by means of plungers 31,

The contactor arm 46 is further provided 1 31. with a cross member 48 that rests upon the trolley wire 28' and prevents the contactor arm from dropping too far below the horizontal plane of trolley wires 28, '28.

a collector, each of the contactors46, is restored to their initial position as shown in Fig 3 by means of gravitationalva'ction. I

Fixed tothe tiplof frog pan 26 is a bracket 7 element 5| that is substantially H-shaped and 'in which the cross'ielement of the H morel or less snugly engages with the upper portion of the projection'on tip 26 and by'placing the pivot pin 7 56 through the apertures provided in thebracket element 5| and in the tip, it will hold the two I in a'firmly fixed relationship and render the two elements immovable with respect to each other.

For the convenience, of securing 59 on pin 5|), it

' is provided with ears 59, 56a and the entire astional mode of attachment.

semblage islheld in place by' means of a pair of conventional cotter pins. Fixed to the left-hand the particular illustration this is shownas a mercury switch, although any otheriorrn of switch may be-substituted in. lieu thereof. The switch between the collectors 9,

V 9a, and their respectiv'contactors, they. will not that correspond to conductor 43 connecting to" the one end of switch 4| andthe other represent v l ing the connection to the trolley 28. Mechanism' 7 used in conjunction 'with contactor'41 maybe identical with that of contactor 46 withthe x-I ception that, the switch 42 would be normally 'ment 42. two devices is substantially the same." It must V be borne in mind-in any event that under norma 4| isfastened to the holder=54 by means of an appropriate clamping element'55. It should be evident from an inspection of the structure set or close the circuit through theleads 51 and 58 'closed when holder 54 holds switch '42 in horizontal position, and when the contactor 141 is elevated by the collector 9, the switch 42 is broughttoa tilted position by the holder 54 but would open the circuit with respect to the leads V 5 1 and. 58that are fastened'in the switch ele- The mechanical functioning of the conditions, switch 4'lfis open and switch'42 is V lclosedi p 3 a 1 7 l the disclosures abovepit is very essential After the passage of' the that the respective lengths of contactors 46 and 41 be proportioned such that irrespective of the angle of the turn-off, the coils l I, l l and 34, 34 will have ample time to become energized to thereby permit the shifting of the tongue elements to the turn-off position. apparent, therefore, that a trolley shifting mechanism has been provided that is positive in its action and will prevent any unintentional shifting of the tongue elements and that is simple and economical in its construction and maintenance.

That which is regarded new, novel and useful and which is sought to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. In an overhead trolley system; a pair of frog pans; a shiftable tongue element associated with each pan; a trolley Wire connected to each pan; a contactor pivotally mounted on each pan and movable relatively to said wires by engagement with passing current collectors; a solenoid coil actuated plunger means to shift said tongue elements from one to another position; a switch associated with and operated by movement of each contactor; a circuit including a source of current said switches and said coil connected in series; one of said switches being normally open and the other normally closed; said circuit closed when said contactor associated with said normally open switch is moved prior to the other; said circuit remaining open when said contactors are substantially simultaneously engaged and means to reset said tongue elements after each shifting thereof, said reset means operable through said plunger means.

2. In an overhead trolley system; a pair of trolley frog pans; a shiftable tongue associated with, each pan; a trolley wire connected to one end of each of said frog pans; a current collector engaging each wire, a contactor pivoted to each pan and movable at right angles with respect to said trolley wires said contactors pivoted when engaged by said collectors; electromagnetic means to shift said tongues from one to another position; a switch associated with and operable by the movement of each of said contactors; a circuit to control said means in which one side of said switches is connected to said trolley wires as a source of current supply and the other side of said switches connected to said electromagnetic means; said circuit energized when one of said contactors is lifted prior to the other, but remaining unenergized when both contactors are substantially simultaneously lifted.

3. In an overhead trolley system; a pair of frog pans maintained in a spaced relationship; a pivoted tongue element on each of said pans; a pair of trolley wires fixed to one end of each of said It is thought pans; a single trolley wire fixed to the other end of each of said pans; a coil and plunger means associated with each of said pans, said plunger connected to said pivoted tongue to shift said tongue from one to the other of each of said pairs of trolley wires; a switch on each of said pan elements; a pivoted contactor disposed adjacent each said single trolley wire and adapted to actuate the switch on each of said pan elements;

means supporting said switches on said pans for opening and closing same by said pivoted contactors; current collectors engaging said trolley wires; circuit means connectable across said trolley wires including said coils and said switches; and said tongues shiftable when one said collector engages its corresponding contactor ahead of the other collector and when both collectors substantially simultaneously engage both said contactors keeping said circuits open thereby preventing shifting said tongue elements.

4. In an overhead trolley system; a pair of spaced apart pan elements; a pivoted tongue on each of said pan elements; a coil and plunger associated with each pan, each said plunger connected respectively with one of said tongues; a trolley wire fixed to one end of each of said pans; a contactor pivoted to each pan and adapted to move with respect to each said pan and its associated trolley wire; a switch operatively associated with each contactor; means supporting said switches on said pans for opening and closing by said pivoted contactors; current collectors in engagement with each of said trolley wires; a circuit connectable across said trolley wires which includes said switches and said coils; one of said switches normally open and the other normally closed; said circuit closing when on of said collectors engages the respective contactor before the other collector engages its respective contactor and said circuit remaining open when both of said collectors substantially simultaneously engage their respective contactors.

5. An overhead system to guide a pair of current collectors on a vehicle comprising a pair of main conductors and a pair of branch conductors, therefor, a trolley frog at the intersection of each branch and main conductors, each frog provided with a movable tongue, electrically operated mechanism associated with each frog to actuate the tongues to guide the passing collectors either along the main conductors or on to the branch conductors, means to control the energization of the electrically operated mechanism, the said means comprising a contactor pivotally mounted on each frog and projecting longitudinally from one end thereof and engageable by the current collectors in advance of passing onto the frogs to actuate the contactors about their pivotal axes, a switch associated with each frog and actuated to the open and closed positions by the said operation of the said contactors, one of the switches being normally open and the other switch being normally closed, the switches being connected in series with the electrically operated mechanisms and the said mechanisms and associated switches being electrically connected to the trolley Wires for energization, the said contactors being so constructed and positioned relative to each other as to be simultaneously or sequentially engaged by the current collectors for determining the movement of the frog tongues, the said engagement being effected by the angularity of the switches with respect to the main conductor as the collectors are passing the contactors.

WARREN J. LEWIS. 

